U.S. Reps Jim Jordan, Mike Turner test negative for COVID-19

U.S. Reps Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, and Mike Turner, R-Dayton both tested negative for COVID-19.

Jordan was tested Friday as a precaution after traveling on Air Force One with President Donald Trump to Tuesday’s debate in Cleveland, said Russell Dye, spokesman for the congressman.

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Ranking Member Jim Jordan Tests Negative for COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/F25SOzTdUF
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) October 2, 2020

“Mr. Jordan has been advised by his physician that since he was not in close contact with any COVID-19 positive people during a risk time period, he does not have to quarantine," Dye tweeted.

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Turner was re-tested for coronavirus Friday morning after he was with the president on Monday. His results were negative, Morgan Rako, Turner’s communications director stated in a release.

Trump announced Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. That announcement came shortly after news that Trump’s aide Hope Hicks had tested positive, and that the president and first lady had been in close contact with her.

Trump debated his Democratic opponent former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night in Cleveland and traveled Wednesday to a campaign event in Minnesota.

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Dye said Jordan tested negative prior to the debate and did not have close contact with the president or Hicks on Air Force One.

Dye said Jordan wears a face mask at times, but he did not know for sure if Jordan wore one on Air Force One.

Jordan is running for re-election and faces Democrat Shannon Freshour of Marysville and Libertarian Steve Perkins of Pataskala.

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Perkins said he wishes a speedy recovery to the Trumps.

“While I firmly believe in the right of people to decide for themselves how to best protect themselves from disease, this is the best testament to why you don’t politicize disease,” Perkins said. “It is not for me to decide for other people what is best for them, however, creating a partisan divide over how and when to protect one’s self is at least in some part likely to be responsible for today’s news.”

Ohio Republican Party Communications Director Evan Machan said party Chairman Jane Timken was not at the debate site in Cleveland.

“She was at a watch party with the Cuyahoga County Republican Party. She has not been in physical contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19," Machan said. "Again, we wish the president, first lady, and others affected by this terrible virus a speedy and full recovery.”